MSU's Mullen surprised to be linked to Kansas job

STARKVILLE -- Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen appeared surprised his name surfaced last week in connection with the vacancy at the University of Kansas.

Not long after Kansas announced the resignation of Mark Mangino, Mullen''s name surfaced as a possible replacement in an Associated Press story by Doug Tucker.

Mullen quickly put those rumors to rest and said he hadn''t been in contact with anyone at Kansas. He said his family loves living in Mississippi.

When asked if he''d ever consider leaving MSU for another job, Mullen said if he did "it would have to be something real special."

Mullen said there are too many positive things happening at MSU to leave after only one season. The Bulldogs capped a 5-7 season with a 41-27 victory against the University of Mississippi in the Egg Bowl.

"We like the direction our program is going and the future," Mullen said. "We have a lot of special things going on for us. I don''t know of another program that would match us for the direction we see us going in.

"We''re in the best conference in college football, so I don''t know if there are very many college football places we''d rather be than Starkville, Mississippi."

Mullen and MSU Athletic Director Greg Byrne met last week to evaluate the season, and both were happy about the status of the program.

Byrne hasn''t announced any plans to extend Mullen''s contract or to recommend a raise. He said those decisions "will be made at the appropriate time."

Mullen could have his contract extended to the maximum four years allowed under state law. He makes $1.2 million annually.